In Australia spring starts on 1 September, meaning that the first third of it is almost at an end. That is something that I don't wish to dwell on.

Nor do I want to dwell on the fact that I pulled my calf muscle on the soccer pitch the Saturday before last which has meant no training, no running, and not even any long distance walking for almost 2 weeks.

This week started with warm (but not hot) and sunny weather, almost more like early summer than spring, but close enough to be either. It was perfect weather to be on the soccer pitch, if one were to be uninjured. However yesterday the weather turned. Grey clouds rolled in, dumping rain that was more annoying than threatening. This naturally coincided with a marked improvement in my leg because, of course it would.

This morning was similar, though with a noticeable difference from a personal point of view. My leave balance is high enough that the Powers That Be have been pressuring me to take leave to reduce it. However travel opportunities are rare given the presence of a very high maintenance, almost 19 year old cat who regularly appears in these galleries.

My wingman will be on leave next week for the first week of school holidays since he has a young family, so I decided to take a day off while I could.

Even when it is grey, and spitting with rain, and breaking waves are exploding against a rock pool... knowing that you have a three day weekend, and a Friday where you will be under zero work pressure for once and can go out photo shooting instead of preparing for work certainly makes the morning look delightful indeed.